The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has notified the City of Augusta that they will be increasing the release from Thurmond Dam to 40,000 cubic feet per second. This will cause the river to rise and the creeks in Richmond County to be impacted.

The boat ramps and boating access points in Richmond County have been closed until further notice due to rising water and safety concerns.

All walking paths on the Riverwalk remained closed until further notice.

Wrightsboro Road before Flowing Wells Road is still closed this morning. Detours include Flowing Wells Rd and Belair Road.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for Richmond County, Butler Creek from 7/11 at 2:00 PM to 7/14 at 8:00 PM. Minor flooding is expected.

Never drive vehicles through standing water and do not let children play in flood waters.

Citizens should take the necessary steps to have an evacuation plan for themselves and their family if the need to evacuate quickly. Have a box of important documents, such as birth certificates, insurance cards, social security cards, emergency contact information and medications, ready to take with you.

More information will be provided as it becomes available. If you are in an area that is flooding, please report that information to 911 Dispatch at 706-821-1080.

The Augusta Crime Stoppers and the Riverfront Port Authority have also issued an alert, asking boaters not to “ride up and down the river”. The boat wakes are damaging docks that are lifting far above where they are supposed to be. Boat wakes are destroying docks and properties and even helping to flood some homes. All access to and from the river has been closed, and emergency personnel will only man Pontoons and Jet Skis that leave a very small wakes. Anyone sending wakes in may be held accountable for the damages they do. If emergency personnel do not have a pontoon or jet ski, they may use the Crime Stoppers' pontoon and jet ski until this crisis is over.